Jesus came to cleanse; not condemn

By Rick Warren
— February 9, 2010

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. John 3:17-18 (NIV)

Jesus came to do whatever was necessary to cleanse us of our sins so that we could come home to the Father. Again and again, we see Jesus in the New Testament willing to use his power to heal; we see him willing to use his authority to cleanse.

If, while Earth-bound, Jesus showed compassion for people in need, why would he be any different today? The difference is not with him; it is with the lie within us that whispers God sent his son into the world to condemn it, not to save -- a contradiction of God's Word, which says, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned ...." (John 3:17 NIV)

Can you hear the hiss of the serpent saying the yoke of Jesus is heavy and hard, and so we must hide from the Truth?

A man with a dreaded disease once came to Jesus and said, "Sir, if you want to, you can make me clean."

Jesus reached out and touched the man, saying, "I do want to. Be clean!"

At once the man was healed of his disease. (based on Matthew 8:2-3 TEV)

Today, Jesus still says, "I do want to!"

He wants us to be with him in his kingdom. (John 17:24) His whole mission was to "rescue us from the present evil age." (Galatians 1:4 NIV)

Jon Walker is the managing editor of the Daily Hope devotionals and author of "Growing with Purpose," available at Saddleback Resources. Copyright 2010 by Jon Walker. Used by permission.

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